Writing in The Australian economist Judith Sloan labelled the Albanese-Chalmers budget a ‘shemozzle.’
A lovely word—and a good reason to go hunting for its origin.
At first glance I would have guessed that ‘shemozzle’ is Yiddish.
It certainly looks Yiddish.
However, when I check with Leo Rosten’s authoritative book The Joy of Yiddish—he says not.
But he still includes the word in his book, and this is his explanation: ‘This word is not Yiddish… but slang used by our cousins in England.’
He says he includes it in his (otherwise) entirely Yiddish book because it is often spelled and pronounced like the Yiddish ‘shlimazl’, which pronounced—he says— ‘shli-mozz-zl’ (which means ‘a born loser.)’
Despite that pronunciation Rosten insists the two words do not bear ‘the slightest resemblance.’
If this is so, where did it come from?
Well, the Oxford English Dictionary makes me scratch my head at this point because it says that ‘shemozzle’ is an Anglicised borrowing from the Yiddish word ‘shlimazl.’
Yes, despite Leo Rosten’s confidence there is no resemblance between them, the Oxford says one led to the other.
Well, who am I to argue with the Oxford?
(Or Leo Rosten, come to that?)
The Oxford says ‘shemozzle’ means ‘an unfortunate or troublesome situation.’
And Judith Sloan is right that this is what the government is in over its damaging mess of a budget.
Leo Rosten says ‘shemozzle’ means ‘an uproar, a fight, a confusion’—and it’s certainly that too!
So, ‘shemozzle’ may not be truly Yiddish after all, but it is the word that should be tattooed on Anthony Albanese’s forehead.
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